The biggest problem is a set of harmful chemicals called endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC). EDC’s are synthetic chemicals that mimic or block hormones and disrupt the body’s normal functions. This disruption can happen through altering normal hormone levels, stopping or stimulating the production of hormones, or changing the way hormones travel through the body, thus affecting the functions that these hormones control.

Children are at higher risk because these chemicals can effectively interrupt various stages of development. Children also eat, breath and metabolize more than adults due to their rapid rate of growth, causing them to be even more susceptible.

How to Choose the Safest Plastics

Current regulation does not require that manufacturers label their products with materials used or recycling codes. If you do find recycling code labels they can be used to help as a general guide, but keep in mind that they are not definitive.

Additionally, silicone, glass, wood, and natural rubber are safer alternative choices that are not included in recycling categories. Learn more about silicone here.

#1 (PET or PETE) – Don’t Reuse

Polyethylene Terephthalate is fine for single use, but begins to break down when exposed to heat and harsh detergents in dishwashing cycles.

#2 (HDPE), #4 (LDPE) and #5 (PP) – Safest, Can Be Reused

These plastics have never needed endocrine disrupting chemicals like BPA, BPS, phthalates or lead to function properly (whether for flexibility or rigidity purposes). They have a long track record of safety, so we feel comfortable recommending them.

How to Avoid The Most Toxic Plastics

PVC is considered the most toxic plastic on the planet because it’s well-known for lead (and other heavy metals), phthalates (for flexibility), dioxin and off-gassing load of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). These chemicals are well-established carcinogens and endocrine disruptors that wreak havoc on growing children, causing developmental damage, as well as damage to the liver, central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems.

PVC (#3 recycling code) is found in an unthinkable number of everyday products and there are very few safer alternatives that really get the job done. This creates a nearly impossible task for concerned parents who would love to be able to make quick substitutions.

You can make a difference right away by keeping an eye out for these common sources of soft, flexible vinyl – the most problematic because of the stabilizers (like lead and other heavy metals) and plasticizers (like phthalates) required to make it more pliable.

SOME #7 (Other) Plastics

The #7 recycling category serves as the catch-all for various types of plastic that don’t fit in the other classifications. Some of these plastics have endocrine disrupting chemicals like BPA (polycarbonate) and BPS (sometimes hidden in canned food linings and dollar bills), while some don’t (nylon, acrylic, ABS, SAN, EVA (PEVA), TPE, TPR, and bio-based plastics).

Now here’s where it gets tricky: the #7 recycling category includes several co-polymers made from currently undisclosed ingredients. That’s always a red flag, so we’re continuing to shy away from newer #7 plastics like Tritan because there have been some unsettling studies showing estrogenic activity. Theses studies still haven’t been followed up on by an independent third party, leaving us with a notable red flag. We’re looking forward to the day when we’ll have more concrete answers about it.

According to Mother Jones: The 200-plus samples of Tritan resins that were tested consistently leached estrogen-like chemicals after being exposed to a type of ultraviolet ray found in sunlight (UVA) and another kind that some parents use to sterilize baby bottles (UVC). In some cases, samples that hadn’t even been exposed to UV light also seeped estrogenic compounds.

Insist on Transparency from Manufacturers

Keep in mind that you are voting with every dollar you spend. You’re telling the manufacturers of plastic products and the chemical industry what you will accept and what you won’t. The more you support the companies who have gone the extra mile to remove toxic chemicals from their products (and even label them in every once in awhile!), the more they’ll continue doing so.

Safer Products We’ve Already Confirmed for You

We’ve done an awful lot of research over the last 8 years to locate safer plastic products that are free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, melamine, and other worrisome #7 plastics. So take be sure to check our shopping guides first before buying food related products:

Hi i have been searching high and low for information on the bumbo seat. we currently use it for my daughter to sit in and eat in. I am concerned that he sitting/eating in this may not be the best for her but i am not finding anything that gives me any answers on this! I also want to know if there’s any other safe alternatives to the bumbo if its not the best choice as a safe baby item. A high chair may not be the best choice for us as we hardly have ANY extra space in our apartment.

This is excellent information, it is tough to find much about this anywhere.

Any idea where or how to learn more about the plastics used in orthodontic retainers? The company that made mine will only fax info to my dentist, my dentist has not forwarded it to me, in the past has referred me to the lab that made it. Talk about a runaround. And the dentist says two of my sons need similar retainers, too. They’ve assured me the plastic is bpa free, but do not answer when I ask about other endocrine disrupters.